Data recovery is the process of salvaging data from damaged, failed, corrupted, or inaccessible secondary storage media when it cannot be accessed normally. Often the data are being salvaged from storage media formats such as hard disk drives, storage tapes, CDs, DVDs, RAID, and other electronics. Recovery may be required due to physical damage to the storage device or logical damage to the file system that prevents it from being mounted by the host operating system.

Put simply, data recovery is the process of retrieving computer data that, for any number of reasons, has become inaccessible using normal methods. Ontrack has the right tools and experience to solve your data loss problems.

The most common “data recovery” issue involves an operating system (OS) failure (typically on a single-disk, single-partition, single-OS system), where the goal is to simply copy all wanted files to another disk. This can be easily accomplished with a Live CD, most of which provide a means to

1) mount the system drive
2) mount and backup disk or media drives
3) move the files from the system to the backup with a file manager or optical disc authoring software.

Further, such cases can be mitigated by disk partitioning and consistently moving valuable data files to a different partition from the replaceable OS system files.

Corrupt File

The second type involves a disk-level failure such as a compromised file system, disk partition, or a hard disk failure —in each of which the data cannot be easily read. Depending on the case, solutions involve repairing the file system, partition table or MBR, or hard disk recovery techniques ranging from software-based recovery of corrupted data to hardware replacement on a physically damaged disk. These last two typically indicate the permanent failure of the disk, thus “recovery” means sufficient repair for a one-time recovery of files.

A third type involves the process of retrieving files that have been deleted from a storage media. Although there is some confusion as to the term, the term “data recovery” may be used to refer to such cases in the context of forensic purposes or spying.

There can be several causes of data loss. Some of them could be

1. Data loss can occur from unexpected incidences including national tragedies such as floods and earthquakes.

2. Often power failure can cause loss of data from hard drives. Sudden power surges can also cause a lot of damage to a computer’s hard drive.

3. Accidentally deleting a file or formatting a hard drive or floppy disk is a common reason for data loss.

Preventing data loss

1. Data backup allows for restoring data if data loss occurs. Even ordinary pc users can set up their computer to carry out regularly scheduled backup operations. In the event of a hard drive crash or an unwise change in settings by an uninformed user, the restore tool can be used to retrieve deleted data or to restore the computer’s settings from an earlier time.

2. For the back up process to be useful it should involve several reliable backup systems and performing drills to make sure the data is being stored correctly. Additional protection methods from data loss include making sure that the hard drive is protected from damages from the external environment. This includes protection from sunlight and temperature extremes.

3. Also plugging in your pc into a surge protector rather than an ordinary outlet can give your computer a protection layer from electricity fluctuations. Keep your virus protection up to date. Also remember to keep your backup data separate from your computer.

In Case of Data Loss

If you have accidentally lost any important documents there are several steps you can take. Remember that if you have accidentally erased a file, it may not have vanished from your computer. It may have left an imprint in a different format on the computer’s hard drive or other storage devices. Recovering the data involves locating it and transforming it into human readable form.

1. Not all data may be recoverable.

2. You can either hire professional service to help you solve your problem or attempt a recovery on your own.

3. You can carry out data recovery operations on your own computer if you know what you are doing. There is data recovery software widely available that can assist you in the process.

Data recovery can become complicated if you overwrite on the storage device that has the lost data. Therefore if you do not know what you are doing, it is advisable to contact a professional service firm.

Seek Professional Help in Case of Data Loss

Data recovery professionals are experts in recovering data from all sorts of media and from a variety of damages done. There are many specialists out there who have years of experience in the IT field. The kind of data recovery operation to use will depend a great deal on the storage device and other variables such as the amount of damage done or the operation system used such as Macintosh, Windows or Linux.

There are some cases where it may be impossible to recover any data. However do not fret as the odds lie in your favor since a high percentage of data recovery operations are successful.

Some Data Recovery software

Bootable

Data recovery cannot always be done on a running system. As a result boot disk, Live CD, Live USB, or any other type of Live Distro containing a minimal operating system and a set of repair tools.

* Knoppix : The original Linux Live CD. It contains many useful utilities for data recovery.
* Ubuntu Rescue Remix : A GNU/Linux live system that runs from CD or USB pen drive that includes free-libre, open source data recovery and forensics tools.
* SystemRescueCD : A Gentoo based Live CD, useful for repairing unbootable computer systems and retrieving data after a system crash
* NeroBackItUp ImageTool : A user friendly bootable environment, through which you can restore your image created by NeroBackItUp and/or NeroBackItUp ImageTool to make your machine back to consistent state.
* SpinRite : Bootable CD running FreeDOS. Drive recovery software written by Steve Gibson of Gibson Research Corporation. Will run on most PC (x86, non-Apple) hardware regardless of installed operating system.

Consistency checkers

* CHKDSK : A consistency checker for DOS and Windows systems.
* Disk First Aid : A consistency checker for Mac OS 9.
* Disk Utility : A consistency checker for Mac OS X.
* fsck : A consistency checker for UNIX file systems.

File Recovery

* PhotoRec : Multi-platform console program used to recover files.
* SanDisk RescuePRO : Software introduced by SanDisk and distributed through LC Technology International Inc.

Forensics

* The Coroner’s Toolkit : A suite of utilities aimed at assisting in forensic analysis of a UNIX system after a break-in.
* The Sleuth Kit : Also known as TSK, The Sleuth Kit is a suite of forensic analysis tools developed by Brian Carrier for UNIX, Linux and Windows systems. TSK includes the Autopsy forensic browser.
* EnCase : A suite of forensic tools developed by Guidance Software that is used for imaging and forensic analysis for UNIX, Linux, and Windows systems.
* FTK by AccessData (Forensic Tool Kit) Used by law enforcement.

Imaging tools